Dominik Uhe, Head of Investor Relationship Management at Kaufland International, shared insights into the retail giant’s evolving role in the supermarket sector, strategies for fostering investor confidence, and the company’s commitment to ESG innovation. With a focus on flexibility, long-term partnerships, and sustainable development, Dominik offers a forward-looking perspective on how Kaufland is shaping the future of retail real estate in CEE and beyond.

The volume of commercial land sales in Romania excluding the industrial segment fell by less than 10% to €450 million during 2023 compared to the previous year, according to a Colliers report.

Kaufland intends to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the future in the construction of new stores. Therefore, the retailer is currently testing various alternatives to materials such as concrete and steel at pilot locations. In Bratislava, the company is opening the largest timber store in Slovakia. In Tuttlingen, Baden-Württemberg, a store is being built using recycled building materials including items such as walls, the facade, and the parking lot.

Retailers and landlords have to be aware that they’re always part of a local community, says Dr. Angelus Bernreuther, Head of Investor Relationship Management at Kaufland. He talked to Property Forum about his outlook for the retail market in CEE and also shared details of the company’s ESG strategy and expansion plans.

Situated in the southwestern city of Sandanski, Kaufland’s first Bulgarian retail park spans over 5,000 sqm. The German retail chain invested over BGN 2 million  ( €1 million) in the outdoor retail area, the company said in a press release.

The hypermarket chain has switched on 420 kWp of rooftop solar panels, bringing the total number of facilities to six. The two new sites are located in the southern city of Petrich and in the capital's Mladost 4 district. By the end of the ear, the retail leader plans to put into operation three more photovoltaic installations.

Bydgoszcz Logistics Centre will continue to lease 45,000 sqm of warehouse space to leading grocery chain Kaufland. During the renegotiation of the lease conditions, CBRE Investment Management, the owner of the complex, was represented by Cushman & Wakefield.

The Kaufland Marketplace will go live in Slovakia on February 15. Under the domain Kaufland.sk, online sellers will then have another sales channel than Germany available to them. The Kaufland Marketplace will also be launched in the Czech Republic in a few months. The marketplaces will be managed via the all-in-one solution Kaufland Global Marketplace, the company announced.

Grocery retailer Kaufland has inaugurated in Bucharest a new hypermarket spanning 5,000 sqm. Following the latest opening, the European network of the retailer climbed to 1,500 units.

Members of the panel on ESG investments at CEE Property Forum 2022 in Vienna agreed that environmental issues are addressed much better than the social and governance parts of ESG. Panellists emphasised that leading organizations in the CRE industry should give clear guidance for improving 'S' and 'G' performance at all levels.